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Culinary students fret over fees

By Dale BrazaoStaff Reporter

Wed., Feb. 24, 2010

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE–While provincial and federal officials continue their probe of a chef school they shut down, nearly 50 students from India don't know if they are ever going to see their tuition money again.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Culinary School suspended operations after provincial and border agents raided it Feb. 12 amid allegations it was operating illegally, and that administrators were handing out bogus certificates.

Swapnil Kedare, above, a student at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Culinary School, operated by Geoffrey Bray-Cotton, above right, paid $14,200 in school fees, which included accommodation in a house he calls "not fit for human habitation." The school's licence is to be revoked March 2. (DALE BRAZAO / TORONTO STAR PHOTOS)

Investigators with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities met with many of the students here Friday, but the meeting produced more confusion and anxiety and few concrete answers, students say.

Some students came away with the impression the only way they may be able to recover their tuition fees is if they get together and take the school to court. Almost all of them are here on co-op exchanges with Mumbai, India.

"We were told to go to small claims court if we want our money back," said Pradeep Bhosale, 25. Most have paid between $13,500 and $18,500 a year in tuition, which includes accommodation at one of five houses owned by the school administrators.

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Bhosale, one of 11 students to so far file complaints, said investigators told them the international chef program they enrolled in is not authorized by the province. He says he and the others received credit for courses they did not take, bringing into question the validity of the diplomas they receive from the school.

The province oversees the Training Completion Assurance Fund, which can either reimburse tuition or allow students to continue their schooling at another institution. Only fee-paying students who signed a contract and are enrolled in approved programs are eligible.

In earlier statements, the province said it raided the school along with enforcement agents from Canada Border Services Agency after "determining the school was operating illegally."

"If the school is teaching illegal courses, then why did the Canadian government issue us study permits and work permits to come here and take those courses?" said Bhosale. "We are victims in this."

Emily Durst, spokeswoman for Training, Colleges and Universities Minister John Milloy, said the ministry has not determined whether the international chef program was an authorized program and urged all students to apply to the fund. All information on the school has been removed from the ministry's website.

"Eligibility for training completions at other institutions, or refunds, are determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the eligibility criteria," Durst said.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Culinary School is operated by Geoffrey Bray-Cotton and his wife, Janice Bartley, a licensed immigration consultant who is also the school's registrar and teaches some courses.

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Bray-Cotton has released a statement saying he has retained a lawyer and plans to meet with ministry officials on Feb. 24 to begin the appeal process. The province says it intends to revoke the school's registration permanently on March 2.

"Our first commitment is to our students and to get back into the kitchen and classroom as soon as possible," Bray-Cotton says in the statement, adding he would make no further comments pending the appeal. "Over the last 10 years we have developed an enviable record of developing skilled chefs for Canada's luxury hotel and restaurant industry and it is our intention to continue to do so."

In their complaints to the province, the students allege they were given credits for courses they did not take, and were forced to take courses they already took in India. They also accuse Bartley of charging exorbitant fees to process visa and work permit extensions they need to continue studying in Canada.

Most of the students come here on a one-year co-op program worked out with their colleges back in India. But, once in Canada, they are offered a second year with Bartley processing their documentation, they say.

Canada Immigration and Canada Border Services Agency is investigating allegations from some students that the school keeps their documents and that some are currently working illegally in restaurants in Ontario and Alberta under the cover of paid internships.

Bray-Cotton may have other problems on his hands. Niagara-on-the-Lake by-law enforcement officers are probing complaints from some students that they were billeted in storage rooms with no windows or ventilation, or were put up in a mice- and rat-infested house he owns.

"I did an inspection on both properties and I will be issuing property standards orders," said Randy Berg, the town's by-law enforcement supervisor.

"They are in violation of our property standards, but I can't get specific with you."

Reached on the phone yesterday, Bray-Cotton said he was aware of the inspections, calling them minor infractions that will be remedied. He declined further comment, citing legal advice.

A number of students have complained to the Star about the conditions of the dilapidated house at 186 Mary St., which is owned by Bray-Cotton. "This place is not fit for human habitation," said Swapnil Kedare, showing the Star several poison traps placed by an exterminator in the bungalow he shares with five of his fellow students.

Kedare, who arrived in Canada in May 2009, says he paid $14,200 in tuition, but has yet to attend classes he paid for, or do any practical training. Instead, he says, he has spent the past year washing dishes at two different luxury Niagara-on-the-Lake restaurants.

"I have paid thousands of dollars to learn, not dishwashing," he said in his complaint to the ministry. "I would like to withdraw and get my full refund, as I have not done any schooling as per contract."

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